Possibilities and lack of information

November 2021, study conducted by Trocando Fraldas with over 5,000 women between October 11 and 19, 2021: Female fertility is directly related to a woman's age, as at birth she already has a kind of egg reserve, about 2 million. These eggs are not produced anymore throughout life, that is, as a woman ages, she gradually has fewer eggs. Because of these physiological factors, doctors recommend that the best age to get pregnant is between 20 and 30 years old. This is the period they consider that women have the best scenario for a positive pregnancy outcome.

After the age of 30, some risks can occur during pregnancy, and although there are currently many resources available, it is important that women are aware of their possibilities. As we found in our recent study, 58% of Brazilian women would have liked to have received information about their chances of getting pregnant when they were younger. This was especially true among women aged 35 to 39, with 72% of respondents in this group.

When you were young, would you have liked information
about your chances of getting pregnant up to age 40?

Lack of medical information

Nowadays, with the internet, there is a lot of information available, but many women would rather trust, and be able to rely on, their doctor. However, 70% of them did not receive information about their chances of getting pregnant while they were young, from their doctors.

Did you receive this information from your doctor when you were young?

  • Roraima is the state where the fewest women received this information from their doctor, with 53% of respondents.
  • Meanwhile, in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, 32% and 31% respectively, did not receive the information.
  • The state with the lowest percentage is Sergipe, with 20% of participants.

Family planning

Knowing about the chances of getting pregnant has a direct impact on women's family planning. After all, nowadays career and studies can be a priority for many of them. Therefore, knowing about the difficulties they may face at certain ages, at least 58% of them would change their pregnancy plans.

  • Tocantins is the state where the most women would change their family planning, with 85% of respondents
  • In Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, 61% and 58% respectively, would make this change.
  • And in Amapá at least 35% of women would change their family planning if they knew about the difficulties of getting pregnant.

Percentage of Brazilian women who would change their family planning if
they knew about the difficulties of getting pregnant, by state

Ranking of states where Brazilian women would have liked to receive information about chances of getting pregnant

  • 1.Tocantins
  • 2.Mato Grosso do Sul
  • 3.Paraíba
  • 4.Ceará
  • 5.Piauí
  • 6.Rio Grande do Sul
  • 7.Rio Grande do Norte
  • 8.Alagoas
  • 9.Santa Catarina
  • 10.Goiás
  • 11.Federal District
  • 12.Espírito Santo
  • 13.São Paulo
  • 14.Minas Gerais
  • 15.Rio de Janeiro
  • 16.Bahia
  • 17.Acre
  • 18.Pernambuco
  • 19.Amapá
  • 20.Maranhão
  • 21.Sergipe
  • 22.Amazonas
  • 23.Paraná
  • 24.Pará
  • 25.Rondônia
  • 26.Mato Grosso
  • 27.Roraima

Research Method

The study had a national scope and was conducted with over 5,000 women between October 11 and 19, 2021. The data collection method was by an online questionnaire form.

The following topics were addressed:

  • When you were young, would you have liked to have information about your chances of getting pregnant up to age 40?
  • Did you receive this information from your doctor when you were young?
  • Would you change your family planning if you knew you might have difficulties from now on?

To compare results between regions and states, the affirmative responses were counted in numbers, 1 for "yes" and 0 for "no". Some questions, aimed at obtaining more qualitative results, were written with more options.